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HVX – HDX Camera Choice
I am shooting my first feature next summer in Pal land. I currently have 2 x HVX 200. I have pulled in a few favours and am in the process of putting a strong cast in place with the hope of a cinema release so I don’t want to mess it up. I have some budget so the question is should I buy a HPX3000 or HDX 900 or 2 x HPX500 with a couple of 35mm lenses? Will any of these really be good enough for cinema release with a few well known names?
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14 Replies
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*Really* depends on the names. There’s a reason you don’t see too many movies from the HVX/HPX out in theaters- it’s hard to get distribution. So if it were me, I’d shoot on the HVX and use the money to get better names- already vetted by a distributor. And unless it’s really an a-lister focus on the home video release. Theatrical is a rarity indeed.
Noah
Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, Apple Color and now the HVX200!
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Thanks for your post Noah. The person in question is to me an A list and in the top 250 on IMDB. I’m tired of doing the festival circuit with shorts and not making money. I’d prefer to make a feature and not make money. I want to move up to theatrical release. Maybe I should go for broke and hire film gear?
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Have you spoken with any distributors yet and gotten their take on the talent’s marketability? That’s really the deciding factor. You can shoot on DV if it’s Ethan Hawke et. al.
Noah
Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, Apple Color and now the HVX200!
https://www.callboxlive.com -
No. I was waiting for contracts to be signed.
You are correct in saying the talent, story etc are the vital issues. I suppose I want to feel confident that with all the work that will be involved, hiring good quality technical people etc that my product “stands up” when shown in a theatre using the equipment I have.
My budget will be about 300k.
Thanks again for your reply. -
The HPX 3000 is the best of the best. If you’re looking for the highest quality capture their’s nothing to discuss. I would not shoot a feature for DC or film-out on an ENG camera.
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Like I said- a good DP and a bankable star can pretty much get any format into a theater or at least into Blockbuster video. David Lynch’s last movie was shot on a PD150 in DVCAM.
Now if we’re talking image quality alone- I agree with with Rumpy to a certain extent. If you are seriously planning theatrical and you are banking on image quality to be the deciding factor you should be looking to perhaps something more high end.
Noah
Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, Apple Color and now the HVX200!
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Oh and again- bankable talent is the *only* thing that decides whether a film gets into a theater. Story is nearly inconsequential to most distributors, unless that story has been anointed with a Sundance award. It’s show business, not show art.
Noah
Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, Apple Color and now the HVX200!
https://www.callboxlive.com -
Thanks all for some good practical advice.
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Do you consider the HPX3000 image-wise suitable for theatrical?
Tim Pipher
Southeastern Studios
Vero Beach, FL
SoutheasternStudios.com -
If I were in that situation I would probably wait until you have a DP on board, then discuss with them possible formats. Then I would rent. You will probably only need the camera for 4 weeks so would it really justify spending a large chunk of your budget on purchasing a high end camera along with all the accessories required. Unless you had a slate of 4 or 5 movies to shoot over the next year where you can amortize the cost, it would seem the money would be better spent on talent and production value.
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